Alfred Grünwald (1884–1951) was an Austrian author,

librettist A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major ...

, and

lyricist A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...

. Some of his better-known works were written in conjunction with the composers

Franz Lehár Franz Lehár ( ; ; 30 April 1870 – 24 October 1948) was an Austro-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas, of which the most successful and best known is '' The Merry Widow'' (''Die lustige Witwe''). Life and career L ...

Emmerich Kálmán Emmerich Kálmán ( ; 24 October 1882 – 30 October 1953) was a Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian composer of operettas and a prominent figure in the development of Operetta#Austria–Hungary, Viennese operetta in the 20th century. Among his most p ...

, Oscar Straus,

Paul Abraham Paul Abraham (; 2 November 1892 – 6 May 1960) was a Jewish-Hungarian composer of operettas, who scored major successes in the German-speaking world. His specialty – and own innovation – was the insertion of jazz interludes into operett ...

, and

Robert Stolz Robert Elisabeth Stolz (25 August 188027 June 1975) was an Austrian songwriter and conductor as well as a composer of operettas and film music.Stanley Sadie Ed. (2002) ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera'', Oxford University Press Biography ...

Life and career

Grünwald was born on 16 February 1884 in Vienna. Following his schooling, he worked in a number of jobs, including as

supernumerary Supernumerary means "exceeding the usual number". Supernumerary may also refer to: * Supernumerary actor, a performer in a film, television show, or stage production who has no role or purpose other than to appear in the background, more common ...

, chorister, and for a theatrical agency, before turning to writing as theatre critic for a Vienna newspaper. From 1909, he wrote

Kabarett Kabarett (; from French ''cabaret'' = tavern) is satirical revue, a form of cabaret which was developed in France by Rodolphe Salis in 1881 as the ''cabaret artistique''. It was named Le Chat Noir and was centered on political events and satire. ...

sketches and librettos for operettas, often collaborating with

Julius Brammer Julius Brammer (9 March 1877 – 18 April 1943) was an Austrian librettist and lyricist. Some of his better-known works were written in conjunction with the composers Emmerich Kálmán, Oscar Straus, Leo Ascher, Edmund Eysler and Robert Stolz. ...

. As a Jew, he was arrested after the ''

Anschluss The (, or , ), also known as the (, ), was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The idea of an (a united Austria and Germany that would form a "German Question, Greater Germany") arose after t ...

'' of Austria in 1938. When he was temporarily released, the family fled to Paris, then in 1940 via Casablanca and Lisbon to New York City. During World War II he was employed for a time with the Office of War Information translating American songs for transmission by radio to Germany. A number of Grünwald's librettos were produced on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

. These included '' Countess Maritza'' (1926), '' The Yankee Princess'' (1922), '' The Circus Princess'' (1927), and '' The Duchess of Chicago'' (1929). He also wrote a number of comedies, including ''Dancing Partner'' (1930), written in collaboration with Alexander Engel and produced on Broadway by

David Belasco David Belasco (July 25, 1853 – May 14, 1931) was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director, and playwright. He was the first writer to adapt the short story ''Madame Butterfly'' for the stage. He launched the theatrical career of ...

. He was a member of the

American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...

. Grünwald died on 24 February 1951 in

Forest Hills, Queens Forest Hills is a neighborhood in the central portion of the borough of Queens in New York City. It is adjacent to Corona to the north, Rego Park and Glendale to the west, Forest Park to the south, Kew Gardens to the southeast and Flushing ...

, New York City. His son Henry A. Grunwald was a journalist and diplomat (US ambassador to Austria from 1988 to 1990).Barbara Boisits (2003)
"Grünwald, Alfred"
''

Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon The ''Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon'Oesterreichisch'' with ''Oe'' is the spelling of the print and online output. (, ) is a five-volume music encyclopedia founded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences' Commission for Music Research. It was offic ...

Works

* 1908 ''Die lustigen Weiber von Wien'', music by

* 1912 '' Hoheit tanzt Walzer'', music by Leo Ascher * 1916 '' Die Rose von Stambul'', collaboration with

, music by Leo Fall * 1920 '' Der letzte Walzer'' (''The Last Waltz''), music by Oscar Straus * 1924 '' Gräfin Mariza'' (''Countess Maritza''), music by

* 1926 '' Die Zirkusprinzessin'' (''The Circus Princess''), music by Emmerich Kálmán * 1928 '' Die Herzogin von Chicago'' (''The Duchess of Chicago''), music by Emmerich Kálmán * 1930 ''Dancing Partner'' (play) * 1930 '' Viktoria und ihr Husar'' (''Victoria and Her Hussar''), with

Fritz Löhner-Beda Fritz Löhner-Beda (24 June 1883 – 4 December 1942), born Bedřich Löwy, was an Austrian librettist, lyricist and writer. Once nearly forgotten, many of his songs and tunes remain popular today. He was murdered in Auschwitz III Monowitz conce ...

, music by

* 1930 '' Das Veilchen vom Montmartre'', music by Emmerich Kálmán * 1931 '' Die Blume von Hawaii'' (''The Flower of Hawaii''), with Fritz Löhner-Beda, music by Paul Abraham * 1932 '' Ball im Savoy'', music by Paul Abraham * 1932 ''Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will'' (''A Woman Who Knows What She Wants''), music by Oscar Straus * 1937 ''Die polnische Hochzeit'', music by Joseph Beer * 1954 '' Arizona Lady'', music by Emmerich Kálmán

Filmography

*'' The Rose of Stamboul'', directed by

Felix Basch Felix Basch (1885–1944) was an American-Austrian actor, screenwriter and film director. He first acted in Vienna, and he was a producer and director for the German film production company U. F. A. Following the Nazi takeover of power in Germ ...

(Germany, 1919, silent) *'' Countess Maritza'', directed by

Hans Steinhoff Hans Steinhoff (10 March 1882 – 20 April 1945) was a German film director, best known for the propaganda films he produced in Nazi Germany. Life and career Steinhoff started his career as a stage actor in the 1900s and later worked as a sta ...

(Germany, 1925) *'' The Circus Princess'', directed by

Adolf Gärtner Adolf Gärtner (24 July 1867 − 9 February 1937) was a German film director of the silent era.Cresswell & Dixon p.174 Selected filmography * ''The Night Talk'' (1917) * ''Sadja'' (1918) * ''The Lady in the Car'' (1919) * ''Between Two Worlds (19 ...

(Germany, 1925) *'' Her Highness Dances the Waltz'', directed by

Fritz Freisler Fritz Freisler (1881–1955) was an Austrian screenwriter and film director of the silent era.von Dassanowsky p.72 Selected filmography * ''The Other I (film), The Other I'' (1918) * ''Love Story (1925 film), Love Story'' (1925) * ''Her Highness ...

(Austria, 1926) *''

The Laughing Husband ''The Laughing Husband'' (German:''Der lachende Ehemann'') is a 1926 German silent film directed by Rudolf Walther-Fein and Rudolf Dworsky and starring Livio Pavanelli, Elisabeth Pinajeff and Hans Albers.Bock & Bergfelder p.181 It is based on t ...

'', directed by

Rudolf Walther-Fein Rudolf Walther-Fein (20 November 1875 – 1 May 1933) was an Austrian film director and film producer, producer of the Silent era, silent and Sound film, early sound era. He directed the first full sound film to be released in Germany ''It's You I ...

and Rudolf Dworsky (Germany, 1926) *''

The Last Waltz ''The Last Waltz'' was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group the Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. ''The Last Waltz'' was advertised as the Band's "farewell concert a ...

'', directed by

Arthur Robison Arthur Robison (June 25, 1883 – October 20, 1935) was a German film director and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 20 films between 1916 and 1935. Selected filmography * '' A Night of Horror'' (1916) * '' What Belongs to Darkne ...

(Germany, 1927) *'' The Circus Princess'', directed by

Victor Janson Victor Arthur Eduard Janson (; 25 September 1884 – 29 June 1960) was a German stage and film actor and film director of Latvian ethnicity. Selected filmography Actor * '' Your Dearest Enemy'' (1916) * '' When Four Do the Same'' (1917) * ''Carm ...

(Germany, 1929) *'' The Merry Wives of Vienna'', directed by

Géza von Bolváry Géza von Bolváry (born Géza Gyula Mária Bolváry Zahn, ; 26 December 1897 – 10 August 1961) was a Hungarian actor, screenwriter, and film director, who worked principally in Germany and Austria. Biography Géza von Bolváry was born i ...

(Germany, 1931) *'' Just a Gigolo'', directed by Jack Conway (1931, based on ''Dancing Partners'') *'' Victoria and Her Hussar'', directed by

Richard Oswald Richard Oswald (5 November 1880 – 11 September 1963) was an Austrian film director, producer, screenwriter, and father of German-American film director Gerd Oswald. Early life and career Richard Oswald, born in Vienna as Richard W. Ornstein, ...

(Germany, 1931) *''

Gräfin Mariza ''Gräfin Mariza'' (; ''Countess Maritza'') is an operetta in three acts composed by Hungarian composer Emmerich Kálmán, with a German libretto by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald. It premiered in Vienna on 28 February 1924 at the Theater ...

'', directed by Richard Oswald (Germany, 1932) *'' The Flower of Hawaii'', directed by Richard Oswald (Germany, 1933) *'' A Woman Who Knows What She Wants'', directed by

Václav Binovec Václav Binovec (12 September 1892 – 29 February 1976, in Prague) was a Czech film director, screenwriter, and occasional actor. He was often referred to under the pseudonyms of Willy Bronx or W. Bronx, and also V. Vabin. Binovec set up the fil ...

(Czechoslovakia, 1934) **'' A Woman Who Knows What She Wants'', directed by

(Germany, 1934) *''

'', directed by

Georg Jacoby Georg Jacoby (23 July 1882 – 21 February 1964) was a German film director and screenwriter.Profile
, bfi.org.uk; accessed 1 ...

(Germany, 1934) *'' Ball im Savoy'', directed by

Steve Sekely Steve Sekely (February 25, 1899 – March 9, 1979) was a Hungarian Jewish film director. Born István Székely, he was known by several names, based on his changing professional and immigration status, including Stefan Szekely. He directed films ...

(Austria, 1935) *'' Her Highness Dances the Waltz'', directed by

Max Neufeld Max Neufeld (13 February 1887 – 2 December 1967) was an Austrian film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 70 films between 1919 and 1957. He directed the 1934 film ''The Song of the Sun'', which starred Vittorio De Sica. Selecte ...

(Austria, 1935, based on ''Hoheit tanzt Walzer'') **''Tanecek panny márinky'', directed by Max Neufeld (Czechoslovakia, 1935, based on ''Hoheit tanzt Walzer'') **''Valse éternelle'', directed by Max Neufeld (France, 1936, based on ''Hoheit tanzt Walzer'') *''Dschainah, das Mädchen aus dem Tanzhaus'', directed by (Austria, 1935) *''

'', directed by

Leo Mittler Leo Mittler (18 December 1893 – 16 May 1958) was an Austrian playwright, screenwriter and film director. Mittler was born in Vienna to a Jewish family. He attended the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, University of Music and Per ...

(France, 1936) **''

'', directed by Leo Mittler (UK, 1936) *'' Ball at Savoy'', directed by

Victor Hanbury W. Victor Hanbury (1897 – 14 December 1954) was a British film director and producer. Entering the film industry in 1919 after service in the First World War, he became a director and producer in the early 1930s. His last film as a director w ...

(UK, 1936) *', directed by

Johann von Vásáry Johann von Vásáry or János Vaszary (1899–1963) was a Hungarian actor, screenwriter, playwright and film director. Several of his plays were adapted into films including ''I Entrust My Wife to You'' in 1943.Rentschler p.344 He was married to ...

(Hungary, 1937) **'' Roxy and the Wonderteam'', directed by Johann von Vásáry (Austria, 1938) *'' The Rose of Stamboul'', directed by

Karl Anton Karl Anton or Karel Anton (25 October 1898 12 April 1979) was a Bohemian-born German film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Biography He was born in Prague on 25 October 1898. His father, Wilhelm Anton (1861–1918) was a physician. ...

(West Germany, 1953) *''

'', directed by

Arthur Maria Rabenalt Arthur Maria Rabenalt (25 June 1905 – 26 February 1993) was an Austrian film director, writer, and author. He directed more than 90 films between 1934 and 1978. His 1958 film ''That Won't Keep a Sailor Down'' was entered into the 1st Moscow In ...

(West Germany, 1953) *'' Victoria and Her Hussar'', directed by

Rudolf Schündler Rudolf Ernst Paul Schündler (17 April 1906, in Leipzig – 12 December 1988, in Munich) was a German actor and director. He played "Karl" in ''The Exorcist'' (1973). After finishing the film ''The Nasty Girl'', Schündler died of a heart attac ...

(West Germany, 1954) *'' Ball im Savoy'', directed by

Paul Martin Paul Edgar Philippe Martin (born August 28, 1938), also known as Paul Martin Jr., is a Canadian lawyer and retired politician who served as the 21st prime minister of Canada and the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2003 to 2006. Th ...

(West Germany, 1955) *'' A Woman Who Knows What She Wants'', directed by

(West Germany, 1958) *'' Mister Iks'', directed by (Soviet Union, 1958, based on '' Die Zirkusprinzessin'') *''

'', directed by Rudolf Schündler (West Germany, 1958) *'' The Circus Princess'', directed by

Svetlana Druzhinina Svetlana Sergeevna Druzhinina (; born 16 December 1935 in Moscow) is a USSR, Soviet and Russians, Russian actress, film director, screenwriter and film producer. She is best known for directing the Gardes de la Marine, Gardes-Marines trilogy consi ...

(Soviet Union, 1982)

References

External links

*
Alfred Grunwald papers, 1907–2004
held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division,

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, is located at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, in the Lincoln Center complex on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York City. Situated between the Metropolitan O ...

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Grunwald, Alfred 1884 births 1951 deaths Writers from Vienna Austrian operetta librettists Austrian lyricists Jewish Austrian writers Jewish emigrants from Austria after the Anschluss to the United States Exilliteratur writers Austrian male dramatists and playwrights